DECADES of classic TV are to be opened up to the public as the BBC announced last night it would make a treasure trove of footage available on the internet.

DECADES of classic TV are to be opened up to the public as the BBC announced last night it would make a treasure trove of footage available on the internet.

Groundbreaking wildlife footage and clips from well-known shows will be among the selected material to be released from the video vaults.

The project, called the BBC Creative Archive, was outlined by director general Greg Dyke but details have still to be finalised.

He said, "The BBC probably has the best television library in the world. Up until now this huge resource has remained locked up, inaccessible to the public because there hasn't been an effective mechanism for distribution.

"But the digital revolution and broadband are changing all that. For the first time there is an easy and affordable way of making this treasure trove of BBC content available to all."

Mr Dyke - speaking at the MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival - gave the example of a child at home, school or in a public library, accessing BBC material to help with homework and projects.

He said, "Just imagine your child comes home from school with homework to make a presentation to the class on lions, or dinosaurs, or Argentina or on the industrial revolution.

"They search for real moving pictures which would turn their project into an exciting multimedia presentation.

"They download them and, hey presto, they are able to use the BBC material in their presentation free."

It is not thought that entire entertainment shows will be available at the flick of a switch because sales of programmes on DVD and video are a lucrative source of income for the BBC. However clips from top shows may be available.

Mr Dyke said the plan was to allow "parts" of programmes where the BBC owned the rights to be downloaded and there would be a licensing system.

"When complete, the BBC will have taken a massive step forward in opening our content to all - be they young or old, rich or poor.

"But then it's not reallyour content - the people of Britain have paid for it and our role should be to help themuse it."